NOAA Forecasts High Chance of Above-Normal Hurricane Season in 2024 Due to La Nina and Warm Atlantic Waters

The NOAA has announced an 85% chance that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be more intense than usual, attributing this forecast to the effects of La Niña and warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Atlantic. While the hurricane season officially starts on June 1, significant storms typically do not emerge until later in the summer, with the peak period often occurring in August. The NOAA’s outlook includes a prediction of 17-25 named storms, with 8-13 possibly escalating into hurricanes, and 4-7 of these potentially reaching major hurricane status. This forecast has raised concerns among hurricane-watchers about the upcoming season’s impact.